According to the BBC, the consultation outlines six potential ways of managing access to the Kenwood Ladies’ Pond, Highgate Men’s Pond and the Mixed Pond.
Currently, trans men and trans women are entitled to use the pond that aligns with their gender identity, while the Mixed Pond remains open to everyone.
The review follows an April Supreme Court ruling that clarified the legal definition of a woman under the Equality Act 2010 as referring to biological sex.
The corporation says at the website: “The consultation focuses on whether these facilities should operate as exclusively single-sex spaces, mixed-sex spaces, or trans-inclusive spaces.
“We also want to understand how people use the ponds, what they value most, and how they think these unique facilities should operate in the future.”
This ruling means that these individuals can be excluded from single-sex spaces such as women’s refuges and changing rooms, if it is a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim, such as ensuring safety and privacy.
The ruling prompted a need to ensure the ponds’ management remains compliant with equality legislation.
One proposed option would maintain the current system, with trans men able to swim at the men’s pond and trans women at the women’s pond.
Another would make the ponds strictly single-sex, restricting access solely to biological men and biological women.
A third option suggests access based on how people live their lives, meaning the men’s pond would be for those living as men (including trans men but excluding trans women), and the ladies’ pond for those living as women (including trans women but excluding trans men).
Another option stipulates that all the ponds should be trans-inclusive spaces but that the communal toilets and changing rooms should not be.
This would mean trans men would have access to the men’s pond and trans women would have access to the women’s pond and the meadow, but would be required to use the separate accessible toilet, shower and changing room at each facility.
A hybrid approach opening the ponds as trans-inclusive spaces at some times but as strictly single-sex facilities at other times is also under consideration.
MOST READ:
The final option would remove all restrictions, opening every facility to everyone.
The corporation said it does not currently favour this option, citing concerns it would prove unpopular due to the ponds’ “unique nature and historic significance”, but included it “for completeness and to evaluate support”.
The consultation runs until 12pm on November 25, 2025. To take part, visit https://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/things-to-do/green-spaces/hampstead-heath/activities-at-hampstead-heath/swimming-at-hampstead-heath/have-your-say-on-hampstead-heaths-swimming-ponds
